Today is Women's Equality Day: see the best and worst states for gender equality

Grace Wilson

August 25, 2015 2:49 PM

Photo: Mike Kemp, Getty Images

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Today, August 26, is Women's Equality Day in the United States, a day designated in 1971 to symbolize the progress women have made and the continued fight for equality among the sexes.

Gender equality has been a hot topic in 2015, not that it wasn't a hot topic decades ago, too. But young people are jumping onboard and embracing feminism in new droves. With famous stars like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Mindy Kaling, and Lena Dunham encouraging young women and men alike to support gender equality, the movement has gained traction once again. But when we talk about equality among the sexes, what do we mean, and how is it measured?

According to the WEC's Global Gender Gap Index, the U.S. is currently ranked 62nd globally in terms of the gender gap in health and survival, and 54th globally in terms of the gender gap in political empowerment.

WalletHub has ranked the 50 U.S. states on gender equality, factoring in workplace environment equality, education equality, and political empowerment.

See the top five from #5 through #1 and the bottom five, as well as where Connecticut ranked.

Sorry, Connecticut, it appears you're not very equal. Connecticut came in at 24, meaning half of all U.S. states offer more equality to women than Connecticut. The state scored #23 in workplace equality, #34 in education attainment, and #11 in political empowerment.

Wyoming not only ranked #46 in overall equality for women, but also came in last (#50) for both political representation and pay gap, meaning that it has the highest gap in salaries between men and women in the country.

South Carolina ranked at #49 for largest executive positions gap, and #47 for largest political representation gap, which factors in the amount of female lawmakers from that state's legislature, as well as lawmakers from the state in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

48. South Carolina South Carolina ranked at #49 for largest... Photo-8412949.115818 - NewsTimes

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49. Idaho

Idaho came in second to last for women's equality, as well as #49 for educational attainment gap, and #48 for the gap in work hours, yet it has one redeeming rank: #3 in pay gap, making it the state with the third smallest wage gap in the country.